Miami’s defense dominated Texas A&M in the College Football Playoff, forcing three turnovers and seven sacks from Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed for a 10-3 victory.
Miami’s Defensive Mastery
The Hurricanes forced Reed into three turnovers and sacked him seven times, a performance that coach Mario Cristobal called “the defense was off the charts the entire day.”
Coach Cristobal Praises Freshman Composure
Cristobal also praised a freshman’s composure: “When the lights come on, certain guys just kind of have it. He’s that guy,” Cristobal said. “When the lights come on, he knows what to do, how to do it, and there’s no flinch in that guy at all. You don’t sense any type of freshman reservation from him.”
Key Plays and Player Highlights
Bryce Fitzgerald, a freshman, grabbed his second interception of the day to seal the win after a series of incompletions by the Aggies. The game also featured a notable 11-yard touchdown catch by freshman Malachi Toney, but a fumble recovered by Daymion Sanford on the subsequent drive kept the score tied.
Texas A&M’s Offense Stifled
The Aggies were held to 89 rushing yards on 35 carries, with their longest run an 11-yard scramble by Reed. Reed finished 25 of 39 for 257 yards but was unable to score a touchdown, marking the first time this season he failed to reach the end zone.
Coaching Insights
Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, in his first year at Miami, praised his unit: “Just trying to make sure he was uncomfortable and trying to not give the same coverage every time… and I thought our guys did a really good job of handling that all day.”
Rueben Bain Jr., the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, recorded four tackles for loss and three sacks, and blocked a field-goal attempt in the second quarter, helping keep the Aggies scoreless before halftime.
Bain credited Hetherman for the defensive success: “It’s crazy for us to win this game in this kind of way. From the first snap to the last, the defense came to play, and that’s the way it’s going to be, especially when you’ve got somebody like coach Hetherman, somebody like that, coaching us every play just to come out and give our best.”
Hetherman added: “Now that defense is connected, and now they want to play for one another, they want to go out and compete every single series,” Hetherman said. “They don’t want to let themselves down.”
Looking Ahead
Miami moves on to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Key Takeaways
- Miami forced three turnovers and seven sacks from Texas A&M’s quarterback.
- The Hurricanes’ defense was praised as “off the charts” by head coach Mario Cristobal.
- Rueben Bain Jr. led the pass rush with four tackles for loss and three sacks.
The 10-3 win cements Miami’s position in the College Football Playoff and sets the stage for a showdown with Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
